Container opening device



' Feb. 17, 1970 w. w. WEINGARDT 3,

CONTAINER OPENING DEVICE 7 Filed Oct. ,12, 1967 26 III.

VENTOR WEINGARDT N 0 W D E R F H W BY TM, a... M

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,495,284 CONTAINER OPENING DEVICE Wilfred W. Weingardt, 3805 Kinnear Ave., Indianapolis, Ind. 46205 Filed Oct. 12, 1967, Ser. No. 674,957 Int. Cl. B67]: 7/16, 7/24; B21d 28/26 US. Cl. 714.25 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A hand-held container opener comprising a plate provided with a pair of longitudinally spaced openings for reception over the little and ring fingers of a users hand. A bottle opening hook and lever project outwardly from one end of the plate whereby the device can be manip nlated to remove bottle caps while not impairing the dexterity of the users hand.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various types of bottle openers, or can openers, or combinations thereof, exist in the art. Usually, such devices are gripped by the user in the palm of his hand and, therefore, must be set aside when the user desires to perform some other function with that hand.

It is an object of this invention to provide a container opening device which may be worn on the hand of a user, but which does not impair the dexterity of that hand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with one form of the invention, I provide a container opening device which may be conveniently manipulated by a user to remove bottle caps or to open cans, and which is retainable on the hand of the user without effort on his part. The container opening elements are disposed in positions remote from the palm of the users hand when the device is being used so that they do not interfere with the performance of other manual operations.

The device comprises a plate having a pair of openings for-med therein for reception over a pair of the users fingers. A lever projects outwardly from one end of said plate, and a hook curved toward said lever also projects outwardly from said one plate end to cooperate with said lever for removing bottle caps. A punch is formed on the hook which curves away from the lever. The punch cooperates with a curved finger projecting outwardly from one side of the plate toward the punch for opening cans.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention.

In such drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment of my container opening device;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the device shown in FIG. 1 and showing the device being held by a user in position for removing a bottle cap;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the device shown in FIG. 1, and showing the device being held by a user in position to open a can;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of the device shown in FIGS. 14; and

3,495,284 Patented Feb. 17, 1970 "ice DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The embodiment shown in FIGS. 14 comprises an elongated generally planar metal plate 10 having a pair of longitudinally spaced openings 12 and 14 extending therethrough. The openings are interconnected by a central web 15 and a pair of longitudinally extending stretches 16 and 17. The opening 12 is adapted to be received over the users little finger and the opening 14 is adapted to be received over the users ring finger with the conse quence that opening 12 is slightly smaller than opening 14.

As shown, the stretch 16, which is adapted to lie against the juncture of the users palm and fingers, is provided with an outwardly projecting lever 18 at its end adjacent the opening 12. A hook 20 curved toward the lever 16 but spaced therefrom projects outwardly from the stretch 17 at its end adjacent the opening 12. As shown in FIG. 3, when the device is being used to remove a cap 22 from a bottle 23, the lever 18 is disposed against the upper face of said cap and the hook 20 is received under the lip of said cap, whereupon an upward movement of the hook as viewed in FIG. 3 will pry the cap from the bottle.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the end of the hook remote from lever 18 is provided with an outwardly projecting pointed punch 24. Spaced longitudinally inwardly from punch 24 and projecting outwardly from stretch 18 is a finger 26 curved toward said punch but spaced therefrom. Thus, when the device is employed to open a can 28, as shown in FIG. 4, the finger 26 is received under the can rim 29, and an upward movement of the device as viewed in FIG. 4 will cause the punch 24 to pierce an opening in the upper face of the can.

As previously indicated, the device can be worn on the users hand with the openings 12 and 14 received over the users little finger and ring finger, respectively, and the stretch 16 lying against the juncture of the users fingers and palm. Conveniently, in order for the device to more comfortably conform to the users hand, the end of stretch 16 remote from opening 12 projects outwardly from said plate to define an arm 30, curved slightly out of the general plane of the plate. When the device is being worn by the user, it fits the users hand as a pair of rings with the can and bottle opening elements being disposed in positions remote from the users hand so as to not impair the dexterity of the users hand while other functions are being performed.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 comprises a metal plate 10' having an opening 12 formed therein for reception of the users little finger. A lever 18 projects outwardly from one end of the plate, and a book 20' curved toward said lever but spaced therefrom projects outwardly from the same end of said plate. Thus, the lever 18' and hook 20 cooperate in the same manner as lever 18 and hook 20 for removing bottle caps.

An arm 30' is swingably connected to plate 10', as by pin 32, at the end of the plate remote from the hook 20' Conveniently, the plate 10' is recessed on its opposed faces, as at 33, to define an outwardly projecting flange 34 and the inner end of the arm 30' is provided with a slot 35 receivable over flange 34, with the pin 32 extending through said flange and the inner end of the arm. As shown in FIG. 5,, the inner ends of the arm 30' are angulated, as at 36, to abut the faces of the recesses 33 ;when the arm 30 is swung outwardly into operative position shown in full lines in FIG. 6. Conveniently, the arm 30' is biased toward is retracted position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 6 by a spring 37 mounted on pin 32 and biasing against the arm. 7

Thus, the device shown in FIGS. and 6 can be placed on the usersllittle finger with the arm 30' being swung outwardly into its operative position to lie against the juncture of the users fingers and palm. With the device thus placed on the users hand, the hook 20' carrbe placed under the lip of a bottle cap lid with the lever 18' disposed against the upper face of said lid whereupon an upward tilting movement of the device will icause said hook and lever to rem0ve;the cap from its associated bottle. 1

'While both embodiments of the invention have been described as beingusable when they are being worn upon the users fingers, it to be understood, that in such position the invention ipermits'the greatest dexterity of the users hand for other purposes. However, both embodiments of the invention can be used in any convenient position if desired I claim:

1. A container opening device, comprising a plate having at" least one opening formed therein for reception over a users finger, a lever projecting outwardly from one end of said plate, a hook projecting outwardly from said one end of said plate and curved toward said lever for cooperation therewith in' removing bottle caps, a

punch on said hook curved away from said lever, and a finger projecting outwardly from said plate on the opposite side of said hook from said lever ior'cooperation with said punch for opening cans;

2. A container opening device, comprising a plate having at least one opening formed therein for reception overa users finger, a lever projecting outwardly from one end of said plate, a hook projecting outwardly from said one end of said plate. and curved toward said lever for cooperation therewith in removing bottle caps; a flange on said plate opposite said one end, an arm having a slot formed in its inner end receivable over said flange, and a pin received in said flange and inner end of said arm for swingably mounting said arm on said plate; said plate and the inner end of said arm having mating surfaces engageable with each other for limiting the outward swinging movement of said arm for reception against the juncture of the the users fingers and palm.

References Cited UNITED S'EATES PATENTS 647,62 4/1900 McLaughlin 30 298 1,301,128 4/1919 Hibner 714.25 1,204,305 1171916 Nagy 81--3.46

946,494 1/ 1910 Colebeck 30291 ROBERT c. RZIORDON, Primary Examiner R. V. PARKER, JR., Assistant Examiner U.S. c1.;X.R. 30-42, 298, 813.46 

